FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND LEAGUE TOUK.i Bj Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright Sydney, April 15. Mr. Miller, Rugby League secretary, states that the New Zealand Australian tour has not been officially cancelled. Everything is definitely arranged for the visit TO-DAY’S FIXTURES. Tukapa v. Clifton, at Recreation Grounds, New Plymouth, at 3 p.m. (Benefit match.) FIXTURES FOR NEXT SATURDAY. SENIOR (A Grade.) Stratford v. Hawera, at Stratford. Patea v. Waimate, at Manaia. Clifton V. Opunake, at Waitara. Tukapa v. Kaponga, at New Plymouth. Okaiawa, a bye. B. Seniors. Old Boys v. Eltham, at Eltham, 3 p.m. Star v. Inglewood, at Inglewood, 3 p.m. Rahotu v. Okato, at Okato, 3 p.m. NOTES AND COMMENTS. Next Saturday will see the 1921 football season formally opened in Taranaki, when a commencement will be made with the cup competition. Keen interest is being manifested in the competitions this year by all grades of players and indications point to there being an increased number of players donning the jersey this season. Already some good practices have been indulged in by clubs and the various selectors have been busily sorting out the possibilities of new aspirants to club honors. In many of the clubs there is a considerable accession of new blood, but in others, while there is little new blood, many of last year’s promising players are a year older, and with the additional weight and experience should show considerable improvement. To-day quite a number of the senior tennis will be seen in action, and l.io games should be of immense benefit in enabling them to obtain combination. At New Plymouth Clifton will play a bepefit match with Tukapa on the Recreation Grounds, whist at Manaia Okaiawa and Waimate will meet, the proceeds also being devoted to the same benefit for an old Taranaki and New Zealand representative, who has been in ill health for some years. Hawera will also meet Patea, whilst Kaponga seniors will meet the Kaponga Hockey Club in a return match, the latter having gained the victory by 11 points to 8 when the teams met on Wednesday.

Atkins, ex-Taranaki and Wanganui representative, who injured his shoulder when playing for Waimate last year, will wear the Okaiawa colors this year.

The Inglewood Club, which has fallen on evil days of late years, possesses a team of young but keen players who are hopefpl of giving a good account of themselves. They held a useful practice on Thursday.

It was unfortunate that the weather was so wet on Saturday for the tournament at Manaia, for from the play shown by the competing teams under such disadvantageous circumstances, it is certain that had the weather been fine some neat play would have been witnessed. While a seven-a-side tournament is different from a match when 30 occupy the field the play shown gives promise of some keen struggles during the coming chib competitions. Several of the sides would apparently have been evenly matched, as is shown by the fact that Waimate drew with Stratford and also with Clifton, whilst the majority of the other games were very close. Kissick (Kaponga), Birchall (Waimate), Masters and Hampson (Stratford), Campbell and Goodwin (Clifton) were perhaps the best. Goodwin again showed what a great scoring man he is when given plenty of room to operate in.

The dual half-holiday will make matters awkward for some clubs early in the season, but by the first Saturday in June it is hoped that the Saturday half-holiday will be in operation in all the Taranaki towns. In some of the inland towns there is considerable opposition to the movement and it behoves all interested to work if they wish to achieve their aim. Tn this connection a meeting is convened to be held in the municipal buildings, Stratford, this evening, of members of all sports bodies favoring Saturday, and it is hoped there will be a large attendance.

11, is proposed to carry on the Wairoa Sub-Union, from which Patea seceded, the headquarters in future to be Waverley. Two new clubs have been admitted and it is expected that the following will take part in the senior competition: Waverley, Kai-iwi, Opaku, Ngamatapouri and Waitotara-Taumanu. The Inglewood Football Club has received donations of medals from Messrs. R. Masters, M.P. (2), A. Thompson and A. Lile.